Easy Yard Upgrades to Tackle Before Spring Arrives

by Stephanie Hrutkay

We’ve made it through the bulk of winter and spring is right around the corner—officially arriving on Thursday, March 20, to be exact! To prep your yard for the warmer months ahead, there are a few tasks that you can begin now, according to area landscaping pros. Below, two local experts share tips on what exactly to tackle so that you can enjoy your yard to the fullest once sunnier days are here.

Photo courtesy of Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture

Make a Plan: Use the month of March to plan out what you’d like to incorporate in your garden, suggests Jordan Clough, associate principal at Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture in Washington, D.C. “All of the nurseries are releasing their catalogs for the coming season, with many new cultivars coming onto the market,” he says. “Your garden is usually clear and open this time of year, giving you a good sense of the space you have to work with.” Be Ready to Plant: You’ll want to be able to hit the ground gardening when the time comes. Clough says, “If there are any patios, paths, terraces, or walls that need completion, it’s nice to get that done in time for spring planting season.”

Grab Some Mulch: Did you know that Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the City of Alexandria offer free mulch pickup for residents? “They’ll even deliver for a fee,” shares Deborah Sauri, co-founder of TriVistaUSA Design + Build in Arlington. “Mulch controls weeds, improves the soil for all your new Spring plantings, and looks great,” she explains.

Photo courtesy of TriVistaUSA Design + Build

Clean the Gutters: Go on up and tackle the gutters when you have a free weekend afternoon. “It’ll help prevent clogs before all our spring rain,” Sauri says. “In this area, we usually see our first mosquitoes in April, so keeping them clean will control infestations as well as rodents or mold.”

Prune Your Fruit Trees: It’s a great time to grab those shears. “Trees like Peach, Apple, Pear, and edible Cherry all benefit from a late winter/early spring pruning to open up the canopy to allow for better fruit production by increasing airflow and sunlight to the middle of the tree,” Clough says, noting that the goal is to create a bowl shape when you’re pruning. Looking to expand your selection? “This is also the time of year to plant any new fruiting trees, before they leaf out,” Clough says.

Take Charge of Removal: Use this time to say goodbye to invasive species and undesirable plantings, Clough says. “If there are invasive vines and shrubs, or other woody material that needs to be removed, removing them while they are dry and brittle in cool weather is far easier than trying to remove them in the mid-summer heat and humidity when they have all the weight of water and foliage,” he explains.

Add Solar Lighting: Upgrade your backyard with some inexpensive solar lighting, which Sauri has been enjoying herself. “I recently ordered some solar-powered lighting to line our driveway and illuminate our trees and bushes that will be blooming this spring,” she says.

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9